Sony Handycam NEX-VG20

A new series of camcorders

On the 24th of August Sony announced 4 new cameras and one Handycam full HD camcorder, which they named NEX-VG20. The team at the Japanese company says that this new product is a great tool for videographers; by using it, they will be able to “explore the artistic potential of the growing range of E-Mount lenses for shooting cinematic Full HD video and high-resolution still photos.” Even we cannot analyze this new camcorder, we are able to offer you a short introduction instead of an in depth analysis.

Improved specs

The new model is an improvement when compared to the previous model, the NEX -VG10. It is supposedly able to shoot much more superb videos than its predecessor, namely full HD 1920 x 1080 60/24p AVCHD. The Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor it uses will further enhance the quality of the said videos by snapping 16-megapixels pictures which feature very low noise when standing in low light conditions and its ability to create background defocus effects. As for processor, the NEX-VG20 runs on BIONZ, which will translate into better focus assist and auto focus.

Better ergonomics

When compared to other Sony camcorders, this new one sports enhanced ergonomics. That means the gadget has more manual controls than before; they sit in such a way to make usage pleasant. Manufacturers have also added a second record key as well as better grips for balance and low-angle shooting. According to some, the ergonomics was pretty good, since it meant they could hold the gadget comfortably in their hands; but, on the downside, they felt it was rather big.
As for lens, the Handycam NEX-VG20 comes with an interchangeable one. There’s also a SEL18200 F3.5-6.3 E-mount lens which features Optical SteadyShot image stabilization and wide 11x optical zoom range. This allows the user to take photos and shoot videos with a quiet autofocus. Sony’s latest Handycam offers an optional LA-EA2 lens mount adaptor and the company has decided to create an eco-system that will help users use the product with lens from other manufacturers.

3 inch display

The screen of the gadget is a 3″ Xtra Fine LCD one which can rotate 270 degrees. It ships with something called TruBlack; this technology is meant to provide very good contrast and clarity. People who have already analyzed the device thought that the display was very responsive and they enjoyed the fact that it stood on even when they connected the camcorder to an external source. The viewfinder was a little bit uncomfortable to the eyes, because it caused fatigue when held up too close for long periods of time.

RAW and JPEG files

Surprisingly, there is no storage on this handycam, but the product works with Sony’s SD memory cards and Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX series.
The NEX-VG20 camcorder has a quad capsule spatial array stereo microphone which is able to support both 5.1 channel surround sound with audio level control and stereo. So far it seems that people haven’t complained about the audio quality being awful.
This new gadget coming from Sony can supposedly save the stills you took in RAW and JPEG, unlike its predecessor. The official press release also claims that the new product boasts direct copy ability and a remote control. The direct copy feature will let customers connect and record directly to an external hard drive.

Conclusion

Because we don’t have access to the gadget for a full product analysis we are not able to provide you any certain conclusion. According to Sony, their NEX-VG20 will come in two versions which will be officially released in November at a price of 1599 dollars (2199 dollars for the VG20H version).